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Hearing Aids Costs & Options

According to the World Health Organization, over 5% of the world’s population, or 466 million people, has disabling hearing loss. By 2050, it is estimated that over 900 million people – or one in 10 people - will have a disabling hearing loss. Only 17% of those who could benefit from a hearing aid - actually use one. Taking the first step towards treating your hearing loss, or finding out information for a loved one is critical. Doing your research, learning about hearing aid costs and options is important. Here are a few frequently asked questions to help you in your research into hearing aid costs and options. Regardless of the cost, there are options available to you and your loved ones!

Taking the first step towards treating your hearing loss or finding out information for a loved one is critical. Doing your research, learning about hearing aid costs and options is important. Here are a few frequently asked questions to help you in your research into hearing aid costs and options. Regardless of the cost, there are options available to you and your loved ones!

Where can I buy hearing aids?

The best place to begin is to partner with a hearing care professional. Don’t have a hearing care professional? We can help you find one in your area.

Find a Hearing Care Professional here

They have advanced testing and tools to gauge your hearing capabilities precisely. With extensive training, our professionals understand which hearing aid and technology level will suit you.

Furthermore, the hearing care professional will support you, as you become acclimated to wearing hearing aids. They will provide tips to help you become accustomed to wearing hearing aids, and kits to properly clean and maintain them. They will also repair your hearing aids if they break.

As the analogy goes: You can put glasses on, and see how they help, and know for certain what you still can’t see. When it comes to hearing, you have no idea what you are missing.

Doctor conducts examinations of ear area for woman

Doctor And Patient Having Meeting In Hospital Reception Area

Elder senior old asian couple meeting specialist professional caucasian doctor visit at home consultant two retirement patient after checkup,health care and medical concept

How do I choose a hearing aid?

A hearing care professional will be able to assist you with selecting a hearing aid that fits your hearing loss and your lifestyle after performing a hearing test. Additionally, here are a few steps that you should work toward:

1. Make a list of hearing goals & ambitions:

Making a list of your own hearing goals and ambitions is an important first step. Outlining what situations you find most challenging, and what you want your hearing aids to do will help you focus throughout the process.

2. Get insight from those closest to you:

Talking with those around you – especially family and friends – will help you find out even more. They have likely noticed many things about your hearing, such as which situations and what distances challenge you the most. They know when you can’t hear them.

3. Check your hearing:

Hearing checks are quick, simple and pain-free.

Visit the Phonak Online Hearing Test

4. Get a more in-depth physical examination:

A longer examination requires your doctor, an ENT or a hearing care professional. They will examine the physical state of your ears and head.

5. Review the available hearing aid options:

Your hearing care professional will then take all this into consideration and assemble a list of hearing aid models and accessories which fit your wants and needs. As noted above, they can then set tiers — based on hearing aids prices and performance — to give you options. Many offer hearing aid payment plans.

6. Do a hearing aid price comparison:

Your hearing care professional will be able to share the devices they recommend. In addition to understanding how the different devices help with your hearing loss, their features and benefits, and how they fit your lifestyle, it is important to ask about their pricing.

7. Consult your provincial healthcare plan:

If you are covered by a provincial or territorial healthcare plan, you may wish to reach out to determine what coverage is available to you.

8. Check with your private health plan (if applicable):

If you do have a private health plan, you may want to reach out to see what is available depending on your coverage.

9. Research hearing aid payment plans:

Your hearing care professional may be able to support you with information on payment plans.

10. Be ready to adjust:

Make note of what you like and do not like about your hearing aids, and keep these points ready for your next visit to your local hearing care professional.

Audéo L-R Receiver-in Canal hearing aid between fingers of a female in her 60s

Phonak Audéo L-R hearing aid with Roger On microphone on a coffee table

What features are available in the hearing aids I purchase?

Like most innovative technology, hearing aids are innovating rapidly. What was incredibly advanced just two years ago might even be a standard feature. Available features will certainly change more in the years ahead. This could affect the price of a hearing aid.

Here is a brief list of features that might be available in the hearing aids that fit your hearing loss:

Preset programs
Individually programmable
Connectivity to Bluetooth®-enabled devices
Digital memory
Direct audio input
Telecoils
Synchronization
Directional microphones
Feedback control
Noise reduction
Environmental noise control
Rechargeable
Low battery indicators
Wax guards

What should I consider before I purchase a hearing aid?

Here are a few considerations before purchasing a hearing aid.

Visiting a hearing care professional for the first time might be new to you. Ask your friends who wear hearing aids which clinic they visit or take a look at reviews online of hearing care professionals.
Check to see if the hearing aid includes a warranty and if the hearing care professional offers a trial period. The warranty should cover parts and labor for a specified period. Some offices may include office visits or professional services in the warranty. Trial periods help you get comfortable.

Considerations for the future include upgrades, increased connectivity, improved power and available accessories.
Make sure you read some product reviews, not just of the individual model you prefer, but also of the entire brand line.

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Female doctors having a meeting in conference room

Young mixed race audiologist consults a woman patient in his office. Treatment of hearing loss in adults

What is included in hearing aid prices?

There are many factors that determine the price of hearing aids. These can include the level of technology, pricing structure of the clinic, and the services and accessories included with the hearing aid purchase.

If you are looking for information on a specific cost at any given time, it is best to reach out to a specific hearing care professional.

Find a Hearing Care Specialist

Can I compare hearing aid prices?

Absolutely! Begin researching the costs of hearing aids yourself, or for a loved one. A hearing aid price comparison is a solid idea; however, it is best to consult a hearing care professional before making a final investment.

Purchasing hearing aids

Considerations include:

Consumer reviews
Brand vs. brand comparisons
Available technology
Recommendations from other hearing aid wearers
New emerging technology
Refund policies
Warranties
Additional fees
Total costs

Do provincial healthcare plans cover hearing aids?

Some provincial healthcare plans may cover some of the cost of hearing aids. To determine what coverage you may have, consult your provincial plan. Your hearing care provider can assist you in determining what provincial coverage is available to you.

Do private health plans cover hearing aids?

Some private health plans may cover the cost of hearing aids. It is best to reach out to your plan, if applicable, to learn what is covered. Your local hearing care professional can assist you in determining what coverage is available to you.

What should I expect when buying a hearing aid?

Here are a few things you should expect when buying a hearing aid:

A preliminary hearing test
Meet with a hearing care professional, for a full physical checkup (which may include health referrals)
Discuss your lifestyle with the hearing care professional. What would you like to do? Focus in conversations, watch television, drive more, listen to music, attend business meetings (etc.).
Receive a range of options; accordingly, sorted by hearing aid prices.
Be surprised by the available technology
Consult with your insurance provider and consider different hearing aid payment plans (which will affect the total price of hearing aids)

Once you have hearing aids, you might want to factor in some time for adjustment. But your new hearing aids may also do things which you didn’t expect. For example, you may notice sounds you didn’t hear before, like the floors squeaking in your home or your car’s turn signal clicking.

What is the best hearing aid?

There are many factors to consider which is the “best” hearing aid for you. That’s why partnering with a hearing care provider is essential. He or she will be able to help you find the best hearing aid that fits your lifestyle and your budget.

Ways to reduce the cost of your hearing aids

There are a few ways to reduce the cost of hearing aids for yourself or your loved ones. Please consult your local hearing care professional to see if you are eligible to test out a hearing aid risk-free. If you are interested in Lyric – the invisible hearing aid - please consult a Certified Lyric Hearing Aids Provider here to determine whether you are eligible to try Lyric risk-free for 30 days.

Certified Lyric Hearing Aids Provider

Provincial and territorial healthcare

Some federal, provincial, or territorial healthcare plans may provide access to hearing aid devices and accessories or reduce the cost to you as a consumer. To see what coverage may be available, consult your provincial or territorial healthcare plan or your hearing care professional.

Additional programs that support access

Depending on a number of factors, there may be additional programs that can help support access to hearing aids. These programs can help support access to hearing aids for children, low-income Canadians, seniors, Veterans, Indigenous Peoples, and those who work in noisy environments. Please consult your hearing care professional to see if you are eligible to access this support.

Cheerful male doctor communicating with young couple in his office.

Duty to Accommodate

Accommodation in the Workplace

Under the provincial and federal Human Rights Codes, employers and service providers have a legal obligation to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities, including people with hearing loss, up to the point of undue hardship. The goal of workplace accommodation is to ensure that employees with disabilities, such as hearing loss, are not unfairly excluded where the working environment can be adjusted without undue hardship.

Exploring Roger system in the workplace

Workplace accommodations are a shared responsibility between the person with hearing loss and their employer. Exploring whether a Roger system may be part of use to you and your work environment is part of the accommodation process.